Back in saddle to meet her rescuer

A woman who was paralysed after a horseriding accident is now back in the saddle and has been re-united with the paramedic who helped her.

Lucy Hunt was crushed by her horse when attempting a jump just over a year ago and broke her sacrum, a bone at the base of her spine and was paralysed from the waist down.

Now the twenty-five-year-old, from Stapleford, has managed to walk, ride a bike and finally get back on a horse again after months of hard work and physiotherapy.

Lucy managed to track down East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic Wayne Foster, who was first on the scene, through mutual friends. The pair were joined for the reunion by Wayne’s colleague Mark McConnell, who provided back-up during the crisis.

Lucy said: “I always felt I owed the paramedics a thank you and I’m so happy I’ve been able to finally do that.

“Their care gave me the best chance of making a good recovery. The way I’d fallen was difficult as I was on my front. They had to get me on my back and so much could have gone wrong but they were so careful and reassured me all the time.”

Wayne, who has been a paramedic for 25 years this month, said: “Lucy is a very brave and determined young woman and an inspiration to others.

“I’ve attended many riding accidents over the years but hers was the worst and her injuries were very serious.

“It’s wonderful to hear she’s doing so well as it’s the nature of the job that you don’t always find out what happened to people. We never expect a thank you but it really means a lot when someone says it.”

Lucy has impressed doctors with her commitment to strengthening her back, including cycling 48 miles this summer in the Great Notts Bike Ride. But it is riding again that has given her the biggest sense of achievement.

She said: “Throughout my recovery I focused on the fact that I wanted to get back on a horse again. Riding has always been such a big part of my life and I didn’t want to give it up.”